Local writers and stories
This morning, (early January, ’24) my daughter called from her home in Newnan, Georgia. “Can you hear the helicopters overhead?” We could hear the helicopters quite clearly over the phone. Might have been a half dozen just circling. She said it was part of the funeral procession for a Coweta County sheriff killed in the…
By: Ron Burt The Quarter Midget Several families introduced me to this fun class. Just like the Mini Wedge, these parents and young drivers are willing to help new people to their racing class. If you live in N.W. Ohio or N.E. Indiana, the closest track is in Maumee at the Lucas County Fairgrounds. Northwest…
By: Mark Holtsberry Elwood M. (Babe) Kemler was born December 22, 1890 in Paulding. The son of Francis born January of 1854 and Laura J. (McCreary) Kemler born May of 1855. This couple was married July 25, 1875 in Paulding. By 1880, this couple was living in Paulding and Francis was a laborer. They had…
By: Nancy Whitaker My children ask me each year: “What do you want for Christmas?” and after thinking about it for a while, I decided to give them my real answer: I want you to keep coming around. I want you to ask me questions. Ask my advice. Tell me your problems. Ask for my…
“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America is intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!” —Matt Squirrels and Reindeer My trusty pump-action BB gun and Marlin .22 rifle brought me many squirrels in mosquito ridden woodlots around my county. I learned early how to reproduce…
By: Ron Burt The First of A Two-Part Series Do your children want to get into racing? The first thing I will tell you, racing and affordable are two words that don’t go together. This goes for any kind of racing but here we’re talking about cars that go around in circles making left turns.…
By: Mark Holtsberry Harry Harrison Kerns was born in Antwerp, Ohio July 30, 1888, the son of Mathew Allison born July 1844 in Ohio and Margaret (Groscost) Kerns born February 1850 in Ohio. Thomas was a Civil War Veteran who served with Company A. 66th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served October 25, 1861 to July…
“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America is intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!” —Matt Misplaced Mishaps It is an unspoken pride that we small-town Americans are pretty good at practical and well thought through placement. Placement of things is a big deal. Whether…
By: James Neuhouser Christmas is gone. The candy has been eaten, the Chex Mix, and only two Lebkuchen cookies left. Three of our four were home and many grandkids. Our daughter came from Atlanta and stayed nearly a week. It was capped off the day after Christmas by a package on the porch. It was…
By: Ron Burt I want to thank all of you that follow The Left Turn here in the West Bend News and my daily sports blog on Facebook, Ohio Sports Blitz. I want to wish you and yours a great New Year. My sources tell me 2024 will be a breakout year for Midwest short…
Oliver Oren Kemerer, an Antwerp fella, was born April 6, 1893, the son of Albert J., born in Ohio 1865 and Cloa L, (Rogers) Kemerer born in Ohio 1871. This couple was married in Paulding on November 6, 1890 and were the parents of Carl J. born 1891, Oliver O. born 1893, a daughter, Florence…
Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker If you lived any time during the Great Depression, you may recall the shortage and the high cost of food. I have heard and read about Victory Gardens and the various methods and substitutions which people used in order to enjoy and cook sone of their favorite foods. …
“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America is intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!” —Matt Against US Army policy Our son had been through basic training and was in the final stages of training to be a US Army Cavalry Scout when his Christmas…
